[joep]

Got to an Advanced Auto Parts tonight. The code reader showed nothing, no codes came up. After work same story with the car barely starting and as soon as I got home I put it back on the charger and it showed charging right away.

So what am I looking at?
Bad alternator?
Bad starter/solenoid?
Something else?

[markwemple]

Go back to the flaps and have them check the alt and bat as they can do those on the car. Go from there.

[HateDCRoads]

Originally Posted by joep

Got to an Advanced Auto Parts tonight. The code reader showed nothing, no codes came up. After work same story with the car barely starting and as soon as I got home I put it back on the charger and it showed charging right away.

So what am I looking at?
Bad alternator?
Bad starter/solenoid?
Something else?

I am going with bad battery or alternator. If your alternator or voltage regulator are bad, then you wouldn't get a good charge on the battery, but should also expect some other electrical gremlins - particularly with the Boxster. My money is on the almost new battery being defective. Happens more often than you think.

[Vicegrip]

Vampire drain on the system. Look for mili amps between the batt and disconnected batt wire with everything off. Pull a fuse at a time to find source. There will be some draw from the system.

Bad battery. disconnect and charge, check full charge voltage then leave disconnected overnight. Connect to the car turn the lights on and check the voltage. Big drop bad battery.

Bad alt. Test voltage at battery then start the car. Voltage should go up.

[BobNovas]

What kind of audio system do you have? On our 2000 Boxster, the super duper audio system/CD player will drain the battery if you turn it off "in the wrong order". I'm not sure what "in the wrong order" is, but I think it involves leaving the CD changer on while turning the radio off by some combination of button pushes.

[joep]

This AM and after work same issue, multiple turns with dead silence, not even a click until it fires up.

Tonight I was able to get the FLAPS to test both the battery and alternator, sans falling snow.

Battery was judged good. 12.33 apps 700-7001 CCA The tech said he noticed a slight drain on the battery after turning the car off however, and will it only sitting less than 2 mins.

Alternator tested fine with headlights & AC running compared to baseline. If he did his thing correctly that only leaves the starter itself?

I don't have a multimeter so I can't test for the vampire drain myself, but that's not ruled out yet.

The audio system is the stock boxster radio. Until now its not been a problem, but I have made it a point to turn it off before parking the car over the past several days.

[Trak Ratt]

If you want to borrow my multi meter you can. PM me if interested

[Dr K]

Nothing and then full start has sounded from the start like a loose connection, at least to me it has.

[Vicegrip]

Originally Posted by Dr K

Nothing and then full start has sounded from the start like a loose connection, at least to me it has.

Known buggy ignition switch has beed mentioned a couple of times too.

[joep]

But in this case I've having no other electrical gremlins, and I did that ignition repair about two years ago. Totally different symptoms and the key isn't difficult to turn at all.

Dr.K maybe onto something. How is it that this is only seen when the whole car is cold though? A drain and short seem to be the best theories so far. PM on the way...